Google streetview comes to Stonehenge

By Ben Hurst on Jan 21, 10 11:59 AM

Stonehenge can be explored with the click of a mouse from today as the nation's most famous sites have been added to Google's Street View mapping.

Over 20 historic locations across the UK - including castles, landscapes and country houses - have been scanned using a panoramic camera, bolted to the back of a tricycle, and added to Google's online mapping service.

Users can now take a 360-degree, ground-level tour of sites such as Corfe Castle in Dorset, Fountains Abbey in North Yorkshire, Lindisfarne Castle in Northumberland, and Plas Newydd in Wales.

Austen fans with a romantic sensibility can even take a virtual turn around Lyme Park in Cheshire - made famous by Colin Firth's emergence from its lake as Mr Darcy in the BBC's adaptation of Pride And Prejudice.

Google's Street View cyclists pedalled over 125 miles on the 18-stone trike, following marked routes around some National Trust and English Heritage sites to capture them from every angle.

Ed Parsons, technologist at Google, said: "We were delighted to be able to open up some of the UK's most famous landmarks to the rest of the world via the web."
However, he does not believe the online experience will discourage tourists from visiting the sites in person.

"It's a fun way to preview what to see and do on a day out," he said. "Or whet your appetite for where to go next."

Lawrence Roots, visitor manager at Corfe Castle, added: "It's fantastic to think that people around the world, who might never be able to travel to the UK, will be able to see the castle and enjoy a virtual visit."

Google will continue to collect images from other National Trust sites throughout 2010, including UNESCO World Heritage Site the Giant's Causeway, in County Antrim.

:: National Trust sites available on Google Street View

South West
Avebury, near Marlborough, Wiltshire
Castle Drogo, near Exeter, Devon
Corfe Castle, Wareham, Dorset
Glendurgan Garden, near Falmouth, Cornwall
Stonehenge, Amesbury, Wiltshire

South East
Ham House, Richmond-upon-Thames, Surrey
Nymans Gardens, near Haywards Heath, West Sussex
Stowe Landscape Gardens, Buckingham

West Midlands
Baddesley Clinton, Warwickshire
Berrington Hall, near Leominster, Herefordshire

East Midlands
Clumber Park, Worksop, Nottinghamshire

East of England
Wicken Fen, near Ely, Cambridgeshire

North East
Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, Ripon, North Yorkshire
Lindisfarne Castle, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland
Malham Tarn Estate, Waterhouses, Settle, North Yorkshire

North West
Lyme Park, Disley, Stockport, Cheshire
Quarry Bank Mill, Styal, Wilmslow, Cheshire

Wales
Plas Newydd, Llanfairpwll, Anglesey

Northern Ireland
Mount Stewart House, Gardens and Temple of the Winds, Newtownards, County Down
Downhill Demesne and Hezlett House, Castlerock, County Londonderry